Jim Clark, of retail analyst Mintel, predicted that OLED televisions
would become the dominant television from 2012, when cheaper models
arrive in the shops in time for the World Cup.

However, the screens have a limited lifespan. An OLED set will last
30,000 hours, about ten years for someone using the TV eight hours a
day.

By contrast, a Sony LCD TV lasts twice that long.

An OLED (organic light emitting diode) is 200 times smaller than a human hair. Two layers of organic material are sandwiched between two conductors. When a current passes from the cathode to the anode a bright light is produced by the organic material

RESEARCHERS at Japan's public broadcaster NHK have developed a flexible OLED display that's 5.8in and can display moving images in colour.

The screen could one day be used as a light-weight television that could be rolled up after use.

It is currently in the early stages of development and the prototype on show at DHK shows lines that are stuck on one colour. This is because connections are vulnerable to breaking due to the flexible screen.